Only seven games into his first — and, ultimately, his only — season as Harrison’s football coach, Marty Galbraith abruptly left the school Thursday, according to school district officials.
Staff photo by Todd Hull
Staff photo by Todd Hull
Galbraith left the school Thursday, according to Cobb County School District spokesman Doug Goodwin. He leaves the football team in the hands of longtime Hoyas coach Bruce Cobleigh, who will finish out the season as the interim head coach.
At this point, it is unclear if Galbraith was fired, or if he resigned his position. Goodwin would only confirm that Galbraith was no longer an employee of the school.
Calls to Galbraith and Cobleigh seeking comment were not returned. A secretary for Harrison principal Donnie Griggers deferred comment to school district officials.
The 62-year-old Galbraith was hired in March to replace former coach David Hines, who stepped down in November.
Galbraith came to Harrison after spending six years as a special teams coach for the Tennessee Titans. He also spent time over a 37-year coaching career as an offensive coordinator at Duke, North Carolina State and Marshall.
Galbraith did have head-coaching experience at the high school level, and in Cobb County. He went 19-11 at Lassiter from 1995-97.
Galbraith’s hiring capped a five-month national search and was applauded by school administrators, alumni, parents and players alike.
“We’re happy to have Marty as our new coach,” Harrison’s then-athletic director, Jerry Meuschke, told the Marietta Daily Journal in March. “It’s been a long episode in trying to find one, but the kids and parents are really excited about trying to start a new chapter.”
That chapter lasted seven games into Galbraith’s first season with the Hoyas.
He left one day before Harrison (4-3, 3-2) was to play Hillgrove (4-3, 3-2) in a key Region 4AAAAAA game with playoff implications. The winner of the game remains squarely in the race for one of the region’s four playoff spots, with the loser likely to miss the postseason.
The 61-year-old Cobleigh returned to Harrison’s coaching staff this fall as Galbraith’s offensive coordinator, five years after stepping down as head coach to spend time with family.
Cobleigh launched Harrison’s football program as the school opened in 1992, spending 16 seasons at the helm with a record of 125-58. That included four region championships and a runner-up finish to Parkview in the 2000 Class AAAAA state finals.
In honor of building the Harrison program from the ground up, and making it into a consistent winner, the school’s stadium was renamed in Cobleigh’s honor during the 2008 season.
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He is very much over is head in his position as a principal.
Very said for the Harrison kids and parents in all regards and not just football.
Due West football and Oregon Park baseball - the cradle of daddy ball.
Just wow. If you are a parent, no wonder our kids are so messed up.
You're a jerk.
We all know how that turned out.
Its a question of character, and regardless of the situation you don't leave high school kids high and dry in the middle of the season.
Donnie Griggers. Mr Griggers this is a 101 tid bit on how to NOT to commuincate. To have no comment and not to answer any questions is poor judgement & startegy on your part. It leads to false speculation , rumors , finger pointing and ill will . I thought - key word THOUGHT you had a better head on your shoulders.
Simply put - just tell the TRUTH on what happened. We are all big boys and girls or are you guy WHO CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH !
Whatever the reason. No one quits on his team with three games left and not to say a word to the kids is real dissapointment.
Mr Griggers are you out there ??? - step up to the plate and set everyone straight
Coach Gailbraith is a disgrace - who quits with three games left. Better who quits and does not say goodbye to his players. He's a coward
For the record no strife between Cobleigh and Gailbraith. They are good friends. You correct Coach Brown is a tool - kids can't stand him
Heard the sophomores were good. Give them a shot. What do you have to lose at this point?
The players just ARE NOT THERE like they once were- many inside the program and all of us outside it can see this easily. The lack of athletes seen on the field against Hillgrove was amazing. Every program goes through talent cycles and those in metro Atlanta also have to deal with new schools being built close by...Harrison may rise again but there's no way they can do much better than they are currently. Mceachern suffered the same drop in talent followed by Hillgrove opening but I think most would agree they have recovered very well, close to being back to the dominant force we saw in the 1990s.
Must be a puppet for admistration.
Must dress out 100 players but only play 20.
Must be willing to give up all control.
All takers contact Donnie Griggers.
My bet is Galbrieth got fed up hearing from Cobleigh how "her used to do it" and hearing the same from the boosters/parents. To tell me an NFL special teams coach can't manage a high school team is rediculous as statistically they make the best head coaches.
I had daughters and was a Harrision parent but no skin in the football game. Coach Cobbleigh, a good guy, never really left. How tough was it for the new guys? Especially with the split in talent...
Galbrieth had a wealth of experience. This is sad for the kids.